How Mike Waugh became head of Farm Show: emails give behind-scene look

Former executive director says he was not pushed out

Former state Sen. Mike Waugh resigned his seat in January and became executive director of the Pennsylvania Farm Show. He is shown here in the large arena of the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex and Expo Center in Harrisburg. (York Daily Record/File)

On Oct. 22, 2013, Patrick Kerwin sent an email to Michael Pechart, telling him that "(t)his whole Mike Waugh thing is a bit annoying."

"My initial tactic was to try to delay it by saying I want to stay until I am at least 66, in an effort not to get tossed earlier," Kerwin, who turned 66 that month, said in the message.

At the time, Kerwin was the executive director of the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex and Expo Center in Harrisburg and Pechart was the executive deputy secretary for the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture.

The message is an apparent reference to Kerwin's departure from his position, which happened less than three months later.

His departure made it possible for Mike Waugh to leave the state Senate and assume Kerwin's old role. That was followed by the setting of a March 18 special election to replace Waugh, criticism that Republicans orchestrated the farm show moves for election-related reasons, and Scott Wagner's eventual upset victory as a write-in over the GOP-backed candidate.

Emails obtained via a Right-to-Know request shed some light on what was happening behind the scenes at the farm show before Kerwin stepped down.

In the Oct. 22 email, Kerwin said he appreciated that Pechart was permitting him to stay through 2014.

"I hope there is not a developing atmosphere about 'we really would like Pat to go now,'" Kerwin wrote. "I have your emails stating I have your full support and that I can stay as long as I like."

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That message and others were obtained by Bob Guzzardi, a Republican critic of Gov. Tom Corbett, and the York Daily Record/Sunday News in separate Right-to-Know requests. Large parts of that message, and others between Kerwin and Pechart, are redacted.

But Guzzardi said they suggest Kerwin didn't want to leave his job as executive director.

"He seems to be a little concerned that he's being pushed out," Guzzardi said.

Kerwin denied that.

"I was not pushed out of the position of Executive Director," Kerwin said in an email Tuesday. "It is a mischaracterization of the facts to state otherwise."

Pechart recently left the department for private sector work, according to department spokeswoman Samantha Krepps.

On Jan. 13, Waugh announced his resignation from the 28th state Senate seat. Later that day, the Corbett administration announced that Waugh was the new executive director of the Farm Show and Kerwin had stepped down from the position to work in an advisory role.

Lt. Gov. Jim Cawley announced that a special election to replace Waugh would take place March 18, about two months before the May 20 primary.

Guzzardi has said the changes were part of an effort to prevent Wagner from getting elected to the state Senate, by allowing Republican Party leaders to hand-pick someone they thought would win easily on March 18 and thus be in a better position to beat Wagner on May 20.

Despite opposition from GOP leaders, Wagner ended up getting elected through a write-in campaign, winning the special election to fill out the remainder of Waugh's term through November. Wagner, the 58-year-old president of a waste and recycling collection company, was sworn into office Wednesday.

But Guzzardi, a Montgomery County businessman, said that regardless of the outcome, taxpayer money has been used for political purposes.

On March 12, he sent letters asking state Attorney General Kathleen Kane and the U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Pennsylvania to investigate what he called a "quid pro quo to manipulate the outcome" of the May 20 primary. The U.S. Attorney's office said Friday it got the request but had no comment beyond that.

Guzzardi has since said responses to his Right-to-Know request have "clarified the mechanics of how taxpayer money was used for private political purposes."

Waugh has repeatedly denied any type of backroom deal.

In February, Waugh said the complex had a vacant marketing and sales position, and Kerwin will be focusing on that, as well as some long-term strategic planning. Waugh said he wanted to move into the executive director position after the annual Pennsylvania Farm Show, because that was a "sort of grand finale" for Kerwin.

The email messages show some conversations that took place before Waugh's formal announcement on Jan. 13 that he had resigned from the Senate.

Timeline

The Oct. 22 message from Kerwin to Pechart was sent at about 11:20 a.m.

There are more messages between Kerwin and Pechart that day, but all or parts of them are redacted.

In one of them, sent at about 1:30 p.m., Pechart told Kerwin that he was "really disappointed and frankly feel very confused by your email."

"I am in the middle of preparing for a House Hearing on our Amusement Ride Program tomorrow," he wrote, but added that he wanted to get some things off his chest.

He went on to list 18 points. The only ones that weren't redacted are numbers nine and 16.

"Pat it was not my idea for the change from Kerwin to Waugh," Pechart said. "It was Senator Waugh's idea and desire, and he met with you many, many months ago and you both had conversations and he decided he is coming in January, you asked to stay on through 2014, and I have worked hard to ensure that happens."

Pechart said it was his responsibility to ensure an efficient transition.

In point number 16, Pechart said he "would not like to hear the 'we really would like Pat to go.'"

"This is unfair and based on all the effort I have put in thus far, rather absurd," Pechart added. "Like I said earlier, I didn't get you into this situation. I am just trying to make an action for two parties come to fruition for the benefit of both parties."

Later, Waugh provided a personal data sheet to the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture. That data sheet said he'd be available to work Jan. 13 and the minimum salary he would accept was $104,000. Waugh, who was majority caucus chairman in the state Senate, had an annual salary of $101,857 in the General Assembly as of Dec. 15, according to the state's PennWATCH website.

The personal data sheet was dated Dec. 27, 2013. His resume had the same date.

On Dec. 31, George D. Greig, secretary for the Department of Agriculture, sent a letter to the Office of Administration, seeking a senior level appointment for Waugh.

On the evening of Jan. 10, a copy of the news release to announce Waugh's appointment was sent to Kerwin in advance. Kerwin replied at about 8 a.m. on Jan. 11, a Saturday, and approved of the release, but he raised one issue.

"Should I be prepared with a general type verbal comment about retirement to help deflect any comments that he is taking my job?" he said.

He gave an example of such a response, which included that he enjoyed his job and working with the people there. Kerwin also suggested that he say that, after a brief transition period, he looks forward to a more relaxed lifestyle, spending time with his grandchildren, working on his small farm and maybe doing some part-time consulting.

"Mike Waugh is well known, well liked, and well respected," Kerwin said in the example he suggested. "He will do an outstanding job as the new Director."

After the Jan. 13 news release about Waugh's appointment went out to the media, Pechart forwarded it to others. That happened at about 11:40 a.m.

"This has been in the works for about a year and a half now," Pechart said.

He encouraged them to send an email to Waugh, welcoming him to the position.

"Also, PLEASE send Pat Kerwin an email — Pat announced to me last year his intent to retire in 2014," Pechart said.

Pechart said Kerwin would be staying on board through 2014 to help Waugh transition, and to focus on sales, marketing, sponsorships and other issues.

"What Pat has done for and to the complex is amazing, and I personally will be forever grateful to him," Pechart said.

As executive director, Kerwin had a salary of $95,022 as of Dec. 15, according to PennWATCH. His compensation is now $49.92 an hour, as of March 15, according to PennWATCH. Krepps, the department spokesman, said the change is because he is in a limited term position.

Krepps said Kerwin plans to retire in 2014, but has not discussed when.

"He is doing some projects that he wants to finish up as much as he can," Krepps said.

Read the emails

About Bob Guzzardi

Republican Bob Guzzardi, of Montgomery County, has attempted to challenge Gov. Tom Corbett in the May 20 primary.

Republican Party-backed voters contested whether Guzzardi collected enough signatures and met other requirements to qualify as a candidate, according to the Associated Press. A hearing on the issue began Wednesday and continued into Thursday before Commonwealth Court Judge Mary Hannah Leavitt.

Leavitt said she would rule "quickly" on the matter.

Why were some parts of the documents redacted?

Susan L. West, open records officer for the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, said certain information in documents was redacted because it relates to reassignments, promotions and transfers of Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture personnel other than Michael Waugh or Patrick Kerwin, "or is otherwise not responsive to the" Right-to-Know request submitted by the York Daily Record/Sunday News.

To view the request, the response and the documents, see this story at ydr.com.